*Rabochaya Gazeta*, the organ of the Menshevik-ministeralists, attempts to jab us with the fact that in 1911 the Okhrana arrested the Bolshevik conciliationist Rykov in order to provide "freedom" of action "on the eve of elections to the Fourth Duma" (which *Rabochaya Gazeta* emphasizes specially) for the Bolsheviks of our party.

What then does this fact prove? That the Okhrana was clearing the field for the election to the Duma of Malinovsky, who turned out to be a provocateur. Naturally, the Okhrana cared for its own provocateurs.

Does this constitute a reproach against our party? No, just as honest people do not make a reproach against Chernov and Co. for their erroneous vindication of Azef, a reproach—against Ionov (a Bundist, colleague of *Rabochaya Gazeta*) and Co. for the vindication in 1910, in the name of the united Central Committee, of the provocateur Zhitomirsky ("Ottsov"), a reproach—against those Mensheviks who for a certain time attempted to defend in 1904 the provocateur Dobrokokov, a reproach—against those Kadets, among whom too there were subsequently exposed provocateurs.

Errors in failure to recognize provocateurs occurred with all parties without exception. This is a fact. And if *Rabochaya Gazeta*, allying itself with Minister Chernov, does not recall his old errors but speaks only of the errors of its present opponents, then this is clearly a dishonest, clearly an unconscionable tactic. The blow which *Rabochaya Gazeta* attempted to strike at us rebounds upon itself: *Rabochaya Gazeta* itself will never resolve to acknowledge openly before all in honest silence about Azef and in factionally-mercenary "outcries" about such a provocateur as Malinovsky.

*Pravda* No. 68, June 10 (May 28), 1917

Printed from the text of the newspaper *Pravda*